innewtown, thecountry remains polarized on the issue of gun control. cnn's senior congressional correspondent dana bash is in washington. we know that some lawmakers came forward and expressed interest in introducing legislation about gun control, but i guess the question is will they really in the new year? >> reporter: it really -- the reaction, especially and even among republicans to the nra idea is sort of muted at best. it's not a lot of enthusiasm on capitol hill for the idea of the federal government stepping in and endorsing the idea of all schools having armed police officers. never mind funding it. listen to a couple of senators, starting with a republican. >> we had an armed guard in columbine. we had an assault ban. none of it worked. we're talking about preventing mass murder from nontraditional criminals. people who are not traditional criminals, who are not wired right for some reason. >> since we passed the brady law, the assaults are down. we need to keep working on this, and there are lots of different solutions. >> just because the republicans may not be runn

that dominated the sunday morning talk shows.>>newtown. >>newtown. >>newtown. >>newtown. >>how many more? >> reporter: performers and artists now joining with 800 mayors calling for a plan to end gun violence. but wayne lapierre, the chief executive officer and public face of the national rifle association, made clear on nbc's "meet the press" that his organization will oppose legislation adding new restrictions to the sale of weapons or high-capacity ammunition magazines. >> look, i know there's a media machine in this country that wants to blame guns every time something happens. i know there's an anti-second amendment industry in this town. i know there are political elites that for 20 years always try to say it's because of american-owned guns. i'm telling what you think will make people safe. what every mom and dad will make them feel better, when they drop their kid off at school in january is if we have a police officer in that school, a good guy. >> reporter: as the last of the newtown massacre victims are laid to rest, the nra has taken the position that armed security officers

the funeral route. >> they're having their service for his son todayinnewtown. >>it was a lovely poem. may i share it with you. >> please. >> please don't cry, we went on a field trip today. i know this is christmas and here and there are toys to be given so please tell santa to send them to heaven. >>> just ahead on cnn. we're here. no rapture, no giant asteroid, was it all an apocalyptic lie? we ask a family who has been prepared for the end of days for decades. >>> one hour. that's how long the messer family dedicates each day prepping for the end. but it's not what you think. they don't believe in a zombie apocalypse or a giant asteroid hitting the earth. they believe in something much more down to earth, global economic collapse. and they are ready for the civil unrest they believe will follow it or could follow it. mike and lisa messer join me now. so for you it's almost like the great depression when people are starving and they're having to ration things, you will have supplies that you can rely on in case that happens? >> well, that's true, and we do have a lot of supplies that ar

for his son todayinnewtown. >>it was a lovely poem. may i share it with you. >> please. >> please don't cry, we went on a field trip today. i know this is christmas and there are toys to be given. please tell santa to send them to heaven. >>> just ahead on cnn. >> we're here. no rapture, no giant asteroid, was it all an apockliptic lie? [ male announcer ] when it comes to the financial obstacles military families face, we understand. at usaa, we know military life is different. we've been there. that's why every bit of financial advice we offer is geared specifically to current and former military members and their families. [ laughs ] dad! dad! [ applause ] ♪ [ male announcer ] life brings obstacles. usaa brings advice. call or visit us online. we're ready to help. ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] everyone deserves the gift of all day pain relief. this season, discover aleve. all day pain relief with just two pills. make a wish! i wish we could lie here forever. i wish this test drive was over, so we could head back to the dealership. [ male announcer ] it's practically yours. te

. >> all lined up along the funeral route. >> they're having their service for his son todayinnewtown. >>it was a lovely poem. may i share it with you. >> please. >> please don't cry, we went on a field trip today. i know this is christmas and there are toys to be given. please tell santa to send them to heaven. >>> just ahead on cnn. >> we're here. no rapture, no giant asteroid, was it all an apockliptic lie? we're all having such a great year in the gulf, we've decided to put aside our rivalry. 'cause all our states are great. and now is when the gulf gets even better. the beaches and waters couldn't be more beautiful. take a boat ride or just lay in the sun. enjoy the wildlife and natural beauty. and don't forget our amazing seafood. so come to the gulf, you'll have a great time. especially in alabama. you mean mississippi. that's florida. say louisiana or there's no dessert. brought to you by bp and all of us who call the gulf home. >>> one hour. that's how long the messer family dedicates each day prepping for the end. it's not what you think. they believe in something much more

medicine relieves pain fast, with no odor. so all you notice is relief. aspercreme.>>>newtown, connecticut,memorial sites where americans around the country have gathered to support each other and honor the victims of the school sho shooting will now become of a permanent memorial. newtown, connecticut, collectman joins me on the phone. she's leading the effort. thank you for joining us. tell me a little bit about this effort to preserve these memorials. what's the process and when will it begin? >> the process will begin probably later this week. the magnitude of the outpouring of sympathy and flowers and teddy bears and beautiful prayers and posters and signs is really overwhelming and very much valued and honored by our town. so we have decided that we would convert all of those items, those tributes into product that would be part of our permanent memorial. we don't know what the nature of that memorial will be or even where it will be located at this point, but we know we will be preserve all those items probably in the form of soil or in some related form if the product

this is reported i thought was redundant, like saying president obama's speech innnewtownwasa call to scripture and prayer. it wasn't what he was talking about but he referenced scripture and prayer. the first words out of his mouth, the lord is already near, come, let us adore him. it was a spiritual message. in the middle of the message he reflected on the traditional family which we know the church supports and has long supported. and defended. and he made glancing reference to our personal selfishness and said that's a threat to the family. people not wanting to make commitments. and therefore give of their time and their energy to have families in the first place. and then he made reference to this manipulation of nature. but he never mentioned gay marriage. he never mentioned gay people in there. so i think, you know, it is it was certainly one can interpret that was the focus of what he was talking about in that particular paragraph. but i think to characterize the whole message that way is reductive. he was calling all of us to task for various failings, in our personal lives, and i thi

to new gun laws in the aftermath of the killingsinnewtown, connecticut.the ceo went on "meet the press" to defend his call for armed guards in every american school, but here's what a couple of front pages said about wane laperriere. one called him a gun nut and another one headlined with the crazy heest man on earth. laperriere he is not backing down. watch. >> if it's crazy to call for putting police and armed security in our school to protect our children, then call me crazy. i'll tell you what the american people -- i think the american people think it's crazy not to do it. >> there are several lawmakers who are promising to introduce new gun control legislation, and the president formed a new team to come up with ways to limit assault weapons. >>> an idaho senator is apologizing after he was charged with driving under the investment. they arrested senator michael crapo early yesterday after he ran a red light. he failed several field sobriety tests and his blood alcohol level was .110 well above the legal leg legal limit. he's due in court january 4th. >>> just check out the scene